This project challenged the definition of literacy used in New Zealand compared with definitions used overseas and focused on the importance of orality and listening for Māori, based on the premise that without orality and listening, there’s no literacy for all cultural groups. The researchers found that Māori literacy is complex and is equally about relationships and respect building between people and groups of people and the salient features of their tribal lands. Speeches and songs stress meaningful relationships between people, their lands and their neighbours. Underpinning everything is the knowledge Māori want to pass onto future generations. The research found that many kaumātua have high level communication skills in both Māori and English but are
considered illiterate in both languages under the definition of literacy used in New Zealand.
Outputs
Presentation
Hopa, N., Douglas, T.K., Nock.,K., Wong, S., (2005) He Kumete Kōrero: An Adult Māori Literacy Study. The 12th International Conference on Learning , Granada, Spain.